What do you think is the most dangerous
thing in any laboratory?
Lab Safety
 The most dangerous thing in any laboratory is
someone who doesn’t know what they are
doing.
If you don’t know how to use it or don’t
know what it is for it has the potential to
be dangerous.
Pencil
Coin
You name it…
Safety Symbols
Usually only
Common to all Sciences
Apron
Goggles
Corrosive
Proper Disposal
Heating Glassware
Hand Washing
Glassware
General Safety
Heat-resistant
gloves
Toxic/poison
Electrical Shock
No Open Flames
Physical Safety
in Chemistry
Open Flames
Fumes
Usually only
in Biology
Sharp Objects
Plant Safety
Animal Safety
Explanation of Symbols
Apron- Wear a lab apron to protect skin and clothing.
Goggles- Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes during labs that use chemicals,
flames or heating, or the possibility of broken glass.
Glassware- handle breakable materials with care. Do not handle broken glass.
Heat-resistant gloves – Use hand protection when handling hot materials. Do not
touch hot materials with bare hands.
Electrical Shock- Never use electrical equipment around water, or when
equipment or hands are wet. Be sure cords are untangled and can’t trip anyone.
Disconnect equipment when not in use.
No Open Flames- Flammable materials may be present. Make sure no flames,
sparks, or exposed heat sources are present.
Physical Safety- When an experiment involves physical activity, take precaution
not to injure yourself or others. Alert your teacher of any reason that you should
not participate in the activity.
Explanation of Symbols
Proper Disposal- Not everything goes in the trash or sink. Follow teacher’s
directions as to where to dispose of all materials.
Hand Washing- Wash hands thoroughly after all lab activities.
General Safety- Follow additional safety precautions given by your teacher.
Toxic/poison- Do not let poisonous chemicals come in contact with your skin,
clothing or eyes. Do not inhale vapors. Wash hands when you are done with
the activity
Open Flames- You will be working with open flames. Tie back loose hair and
clothing. Follow teacher’s instructions about lighting and extinguishing flames.
Corrosive- Do not let chemicals come in contact with your skin, clothing or eyes.
Do not inhale vapors. Wash hands when you are done with the activity
Heating Glassware- Use a clamp or tongs to handle hot glassware. Do not pick
up hot glassware with your hands.
Fumes- Work in a well-ventilated area or the fume hood. Do not inhale directly.
Use wafting if you are to test the odor of a vapor.
Explanation of Symbols
Sharp Objects- scissors, scalpels, knives, needles, pins, or tacks, can cut or
puncture your skin. Always direct sharp edge or point away from yourself and
others. Use sharp instruments as suggested.
Plant Safety- Handle plants only as directed by your teacher. If you are allergic to
certain plants, tell your teacher before an activity. Avoid touching poisonous
plants or plants with thorns. Wash your hands after activity.
Animal Safety- Treat live animals with care to avoid harming the animals or
yourself. Working with animal parts or preserved animals also may require
caution. Wash your hands after handling any animal specimen.
Lab Safety Rules
Dress Code
1.
2.
3.
4.
Wear safety goggles when directed. Never wear contact lenses in the lab.
Wear a lab coat or apron when directed.
Tie back loose hair whenever chemicals or open flames are being used.
Do not wear loose, baggy clothing or loose jewelry (ID badge lanyards) when working
with chemicals or open flames. Always wear shoes (no sandals, flip-flops, or exposed
toes or feet.
General Safety
5. Never “horse around” in the lab. Be serious and alert.
6. Be ready to work when you enter the lab. Understand the procedures before you
begin and any hazards associated with the lab.
7. Read all directions before the lab. If you are unsure of proper procedure, ask your
teacher before proceeding.
8. Never perform activities that are not authorized by your teacher. Obtain permission
BEFORE you do something that “you are not supposed to be doing.”
9. Never handle any equipment without permission from teacher.
10. Do not spill anything. If you do tell the teacher immediately so that you can clean it up
according to proper procedure.
11. Never eat, taste, or drink anything. Do not apply cosmetics. Wash hands before and
after each activity.
12. Know location and use of safety equipment in lab.
13. Notify teacher of any health issues you may have, such as asthma, allergies, etc…
14. Keep your area neat and free of clutter. No books, bags, unnecessary papers etc…
First Aid
15. Report all accidents, no matter how minor, immediately to the teacher.
16. Know what to do in the case of specific accidents such as acid spills, fires, or chemicals
on skin or in eyes.
17. Know the location of the first aid kit, Nurse’s and Office phone number and how to
respond in case of an emergency. Your teacher should administer any first aid that you
require, but if the teacher goes down you need to help.
Heating and Fire Safety
18. Never used a heat source such as a candle or burner without wearing goggles.
19. Never heat anything that you are not instructed to heat.
20. Keep work area clear of clutter.
21. Never reach across a flame.
22. Make sure you know how to light a bunsen burner. If you do not your teacher will show
you.
23. Point test tubes or bottles that are being heated away from you and others. Chemicals
can boil or splash out of the tube.
24. Never heat a closed container.
25. Never pick up a container without first checking to see if it is hot. If you can feel heat
when you hold the back of your hand near it, use heat gloves or tongs to pick it up.
Using Chemicals Safely
26. Never mix chemicals for the “fun of it.” See unauthorized experiments (rule #8).
27. Never touch, taste, smell etc… any chemical unless instructed to do so.
28. Use only the chemicals need for an investigation. Keep all lids closed when a chemical
is not in use. Notify teacher if spills occur.
29. Dispose of all chemicals as instructed by teacher. To avoid contamination do not return
chemicals to their original containers.
30. Be careful when working with chemicals such as acids or bases. Always pour them over
the sink rather than over your work area.
31. When diluting an acid always add small amounts of Acid to Water. A to W. Ahhh. W
to A. WAAAAA!
32. Rinse acids or bases off of skin immediately. Notify teacher immediately of spills.
Glassware Safety
33. Never force glass tubing into a rubber stopper. Your teacher will demonstrate the proper
procedure to do this.
34. Never heat glassware that is not dry. Use wire gauze to protect glass from the flame.
35. Hot glass does not look hot. Don’t pick up any glassware that may have been heated
without checking to see if it is hot first.
36. Never use broken or chipped glassware. If glass breaks, tell teacher immediately and
dispose of glass in GLASS BOX.
37. Never eat or drink out of lab glassware.
Using Sharp Instruments
38. Handle scalpels and razor blades with extreme care. Never cut material toward yourself
or others. Cut away from you and others.
39. Be careful with sharp stuff. (See sharp object safety symbol)
40. Notify your teacher if you cut yourself.
Handling Living Organisms
41. No investigations that will cause pain, discomfort, or harm to mammals, birds, reptiles,
fish, and amphibians should be done in the classroom or at home.
42. Treat all living things with care and respect. Do not touch any organism in the
classroom or lab without permission. (see plant and animal symbols as well)
43. Animals should be handled only if necessary. If an animal is excited or frightened,
pregnant, feeding, or with its young, special handling is required.
44. Your teacher will instruct you as to how to handle each species that may be brought into
the classroom.
45. Treat all microorganisms as if they were harmful. Use antiseptic procedure, as directed
by your teacher, when working with microbes. Dispose of microbes as your teacher
directs.
46. Clean your hands thoroughly after handling animals or the cage containing them.
47. Wear gloves when handling small mammals. Report bites or stings to teacher
immediately.
Clean up Rules
48. When done do the following: Clean up. Put away correctly. Turn off/unplug. Wash
hands.
Never leave the lab until the teacher
dismisses you.
In other words, don’t be an idiot!
Sources
 http://morrisonlabs.com/images/safety/labSafety.jpeg
(Diagram on page 13)
 http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/safety.htm
l (Diagram on page 14)
 Lab Safety Symbols from:
 Prentice-Hall Biology Laboratory Manual A